The Cold Case Read online

  And as if that’s not all, they would have gotten in a position to win the case, but they were still missing the most crucial bit of the evidence which was the medical report. And that was what the clever attorney was going to use for her own advantage at the end of it all.

  “For your uncle to go Scott free we will be required to find that medical report that would suggest he was poisoned and had the gun placed in his hands. If it’s not that, then all that we have is nothing short of circumstantial evidence which wouldn’t amount to any damn thing at the end of the day. So in other words, we really have no other choice but to work out on something.”

  “I know, and I have been working too darn hard looking for any inconsistence in everything that these police officers who were with my uncle were working on. But from the look of things, it does appear as though I haven’t found anything. These guys were so thorough in their reports and I couldn’t get even a shred of inconsistency.”

  “In that case, I think we shouldn’t stop working as hard as possible or else we are most definitely going to lose the case big time. All I will be required to do is finding you some by having to cross examine the police officers who would have been present. This will get to buy you a lot of time. The court case is starting in an hours’ time and for that matter, we need to get on to work as soon as possible.”

  “And how are you planning on buying me more time?” Agent James asked while shuffling the heap of papers in her hands and looking hella nervous.

  “You worry about getting us something solid and let me worry about the rest. Didn’t I tell you that I have been doing this for a very long time? I know what I am going to do to stall them.” the attorney said with a smile on her face.

  And just like that, agent James went on to work as soon as possible, not even thinking twice about it. As far as she was concerned, she really needed to get on top of her game at all times and for that to happen, then she needed to start looking at the statements from another angle. Even though things were looking as though they were going south, agent James knew that her innocent uncle was depending on her and that there was no other way that he was going to win this without her.

  It was about that time that both of the attorneys were summoned inside and she took her briefcase and left for the courtroom, trying too darn hard to avoid the journalists who were yelling questions as well as flashing their cameras all over her face. Thankfully, the attorney was used to that kind of life and needless to say, she was most definitely going to do all in her power to ensure that she had everything on lock. And at that point, agent James made sure that she was looking at the files for the umpteenth time.

  She wasn’t about to give up.

  Chapter 5 :

  The plot twist

  The judge was clearly not going to be having it any longer. And that said, the only other thing that would have made some sense at that time would have been kicking back and making sure that he was in a position to throw away the case and put an end to it once and for all.

  As usual, the entire James family was already there and all that they really ever wanted was a chance for their old man to get the justice, which they all felt in one way or the other that it was well overdue.

  From the start, it appeared as though James was guilty as charged. But as time went on, also thanks to his niece who made sure that she was getting all of the dots fit, it appeared as though things were going to work out at the end of the day. Her lawyer was stalling the process as agent James checked out the files that she had been going through over and over again, trying to find something.

  And even though things just didn’t seem to be adding up, it still appeared as though every damn thing was most definitely going to make sense as long as she started looking at things from a different point of view.

  Firstly, all of the testimonies said that her uncle was a genteel and wouldn’t even hurt a fly. Then again, there were those who said he had a temper. But all she could remember was that they didn’t even allow for family to get on the stand and give them the opportunity to speak. And it was at that point that she remembered that one thing that really spooked the hell out of her.

  And at that point, the only thing that would have made some sense at any given moment would have been to keep digging.

  And it was at that moment that agent James looked at the other side of the audience present and realized that all of those police officers who were present when the crime was being committed and from the look of things, it did appear as though they were having such a difficult time since they didn’t know what they would proceed to do if at all they did a good job and got the work all sorted out and then they got discovered to be the frauds that they were.

  It was just too darn complicated and for a moment or two, it appeared as though the judge had developed a very keen interest to the proceedings. And so the smart lawyer decided that it would be a good idea for her to call some of these guys to the stand as they were in a position to show some level of guilt.

  And just like that, the only other thing that would have made some sense at any given moment would have been to also buy agent James some time while she was at it. And that way, the only thing would be for her to go harder than usual. She was in the courthouse as well but on the outside, not even bothering to follow up whatever the heck was going on.

  But just like that, even as her kickass lawyer was doing all in her power to get to the bottom of it all, it was still looking to be a very tough call and in the end, it might just see her uncle getting in. Agent James had tried all in her power to get the medical report and for it to get all sorted out rather perfectly, the only other thing that would have made sense was for her to get a court order since it appeared as though the files had been sealed.

  “So, former Agent Moss, right?”

  “Right.”

  “Was it true that you and your racist friends were envious of Mr. James and wanted to do all in your power to get him out of the force?”

  “I am afraid that was not true. As a matter of fact, we all were very good friends and that explained why we went out to have a couple of drinks before we could just chill and enjoy ourselves to the fullest. And then he had way too much to drink and the rest is history.”

  The lawyer was seemingly asking some very straightforward questions that would seem a little bit easy to answer. But she wasn’t really looking for answers, but rather, she was looking for a reaction. And from the look of things, retired agent moss was doing such a fine job in making himself look very bad. And that said there was no coming back from that.

  Finally, agent Howard came through out of nowhere and with him, a very old nurse who looked a little bit shaken and very uncomfortable but then again, on a mission to deal with something that seemed to have bothered her for a very long time.

  “Agent Howard, what brings you here? And who is this sweet old lady?”

  “This one is retired nurse, Miss Hopkins and she so happens to be the missing piece of the puzzle. She took the blood test and she found some sleep inducing substance in his blood and the police told her to keep it a secret. That explain why you never found the medical report. She knew that at that fateful night, she had put a very innocent man away and it had haunted her ever since.”

  Agent James almost cried. But then again, this was far from over. And so without uttering any other words, she made sure that she was calling her lawyer who was wearing a Bluetooth. She just smiled and wound up the cross-examination. And as soon as that was over and done with, the next thing for her was to see to it that she was getting to enjoy her new witness who was unexpected.

  And just like that, the retired nurse was in a position to provide all of the medical documents that went missing as well as the surveillance videos which she had kept just in case she needed a bargaining chip. And at that point, the judge ordered for the immediate release of Mr. James and opened a new case to try his friends. And just like that, the cold case had been solved.

  Mr. James was free at last
and he had his niece to thank. And even though he couldn’t get all those years to make things right, at least he was free and he could make up for all the lost time. It was the happiest moment or her life and she couldn’t get to hide the tears of joy.

  Free Full Length Story

  The Tiny Town Murders

  Series

  …Synopsis…

  Dick Denton is a big city cop from small town roots. He's made a name for himself solving high profile crimes with his signature intelligence and flair. But after one too many cases, Denton decides to take a vacation and go back to his home town of Tiny Town, to escape the stress and tension of his daily work. However, what is supposed to be a quiet vacation that reconnects him to his roots, turns deadly when Dick's old bullies start turning up dead on the streets of Tiny Town. Can Dick solve these grisly murders in time?

  The Tiny Town Murders Book 1

  Chapter 1

  I stepped on the gas pedal instinctively. My car's engine roared and the car's speed increased as I zoomed down the highway. I smiled to myself as I noticed the significant increase in speed.

  “No need for that. I'm not in the big city anymore. I can slow it down.” I said to myself.

  I slowly let go of the gas pedal, while gently stepping on the clutch pedal. The car slightly jerked as I downshifted the gears. I chuckled to myself.

  “I guess I was never really meant to drive. I was meant to be driven around by a chauffer.” I said.

  I turned on the radio and switched to my favorite station that played the oldies. Oldies for the millenial generation, but not so old for me. And hey, I really wasn't that old. Middle-aged at 35 wasn't that old, was it?

  My job at the city as a police detective definitely took its toll on me. I'm not one to toot my own horn, but it surely would have been worse for a weaker man. If any other man had seen the things I had seen, they would have surely quit my job. My job has a way of unravelling weaker men, exposing them to horrors they would never have seen in a drab and normal life.

  Such things were par for the course as a police detective. That was why I was really looking forward to this vacation back to the old homestead, back to where I was born and raised. Back to Tiny Town.

  I saw the old sign at the highway. It was dusty and a little worn for wear from the elements but it still stood and welcomed visitors to our little town enthusiastically.

  “You are now entering OUR little town. Welcome to Tiny Town. Hope you enjoy your stay!”

  There was still the painted figure of a homesteader waving happily at any visitor entering the town proper. It was in many ways, how a typical resident of Tiny Town would welcome a visitor or traveller passing through.

  In many ways, Tiny Town was a town that was trapped in a bottle or suspended from the rest of time and space. Nothing ever really changed here and the pace of life was very slow. That was all very good for me now. I looked forward to seeing Ma and Pa again, as the grind of city life had more than taken its toll on me. I desperately needed a slower change of pace and this would be it.

  The story was very different in my youth. Just as the car slowed down, I reminisced and all the old memories came flooding back. I remembered when I would badger Pa constantly complaining about the slow pace of the town, and the lack of anything to do. I still remember the many slow days spent sleeping in his tractor as he plowed the fields and did his duties as a farmer dilligently. The smell of cut grass and crops was still fresh in my nostrils and I vowed to leave Tiny Town so many times. Ma and Pa would just smile at my insistence. I'm not sure if those were signs of indifference or acceptance. Whatever the case was, I managed to make good on my goal and now, I fould my way back to the old, sleepy town

  Soon enough, I was driving around Tiny Town. Everything was just as I had left it. Mr. Russ still ran his hardware store across the street. Mercer's grocery and general merchandise was also still open and still the biggest grocery in town where everyone bought everything they needed. And Kevin's Pop and Soda joint was still going strong. I could still remember when I dated Carla there and had a milkshake with her. It was the first time I ever kissed a girl and I would never forget it.

  I pulled my windows down and drove to a crawl that best suited Tiny Town's pace of living. I got the desired effect that I wanted and soon, old friends and acquaintances were greeting me and smiling. It was all very refreshing.

  “Hey, look! It's Dick! Dick's come back home!”

  I heard Jason Norris, call me and I waved back at him. Norris was the star quarterback for the local high school nearby. Norris and I did not actually get along back in the day. Being a sports jock, he was one of the typical bullies that a lot of schools, big or small, have. He got on my case a lot of times, and he made my life truly miserable. That's why it was doubly surprising for Norris to hear that I had left town to become a police detective. When I solved numerous high profile cases that made national headlines, it made him initially jealous and insecure. It was an old story that had been told to death, but still had a big kick. Hometown nerd and doormat makes it big while local jock voted most likely to succeed, fails to leave town and settles for a local job at the diner. I'm sure it still ate at Norris, but I decided to let time gloss over the past and move on. I wasn't so sure about him, but he seemed to have learned to accept it.

  I beeped once as I passed by Davis Tomlinson. Davis looked up and nodded silently at my gesture. I think I saw him smile. That was Davis for you. Davis was also a nerd back in the day, but I heard that he had become some kind of agriculturist, animal behavior expert, or something like that. Unlike me, he chose to stay at Tiny Town because it was out in the country and close to a lot of nature where he could continue his work. Davis was naturally shy and reclusive and I could see that he hadn't changed that much. But he was more than happy with it. I was sure I would see more of my friend later, and I was right.

  I finally arrived at our front porch. The house still looked the same. It was still as sleepy as ever. Judy, our old chocolate Labrador barked and wagged her tail in appreciation of me, as she saw me from a distance. Normally, she would have dashed towards me, but time and age had slowed the old gal down. I had to be the one to approach and pat her.

  “Hey, Judy! How's it going?” I said.

  She licked me and wagged her tail in appreciation.

  “Been a long time, son.”

  I looked up and saw Ma and Pa standing on the front porch. They still had the kindest faces of anyone I had ever seen.

  “Ma! Pa!”

  I ran to them and embraced them both. They smiled at me as well. I smelled the sweet and appetizing aroma of Ma's apple pie in the kitchen. I knew that I was truly home.

  Chapter 2

  A Half-meant Joke

  The remainder of the day was spent eating Ma's succullent apple pie. I had eaten in all the joints the big city could offer. I had eaten in fancy restaurants and two bit mom and pop joints but I must say none could compare to Ma Denton's Tiny Town apple pie.

  “This is the best apple pie in the known world!” I said, as I wolfed down another slice.

  Ma and Pa just smiled to themselves as I had my fill.

  “Go ahead. That pie is just for you, Dick. You did look more than a little stressed and thin when you got here. Looked like you needed to be filled out a bit more.”

  “Ma! You always loved to make me fat! That's why I was always the butt of jokes back in the day!” I joked.

  “Haha! That's your mom for you, boy! Don't take it against her. You know that she just meant well.” Pa said

  “Yeah, and that's why I was called Fat Boy Denton by Jason Norris and his gang.” I said.

  Ma suddenly turned serious as she addressed me.

  “Oh speaking of Jason Norris and his friends, have you heard the news? Remember Kenneth Stephenson?”

  “How could I not?” I said.

  I grimaced at the mention of Stephenson's name. There were still a lot of bad memories associated with him and Norris. Memories that w
ere still hard to put away after all these years. Sometimes, I actually envy the current generation with all the anti-bullying slogans and campaigns. The focus to end bullying is a good thing that has been more than a long time coming. Bullying is considered a hate crime and rightfully so. It was hard to erase the scars of bullying even in adulthood, but I more than compensated for all the torment they gave me. At least, I think I did. Still the memories of Norris and his gang would always be there in my head and heart. And Kenneth Stephenson would always be a a part of those nasty memories. A very bad part.

  “That kid was one of Norris' sick lieutenants. He always kissed up too Norris and did his dirty work. Made life really tough for me, Davis, and a whole lot of other kids. What about him? Finally got run over by a truck?” I joked.

  Ma and Pa looked down and suddenly looked forlorn.

  “Hey, it was a joke. I didn't mean that.” I said. It was a joke that was half-meant but I was long past petty bitterness over the past.

  “Dick, he's dead. The funeral is tomorrow?”

  I looked at Ma and Pa in disbelief. I never expected that.

  Chapter 3

  Snakes.

  When I first heard the news about Stephenson's death, I almost flipped over. I could not believe he was dead. Stephenson was a member of the gang of jocks in the school and religiously kept in shape, even when I left Tiny Town. I could not believe that he would have died so suddenly. I attended the wake to my respects. I didn't like the guy, but hey, he was dead. You had to feel sorry for him. And nobody wants to go, so soon.

  I looked in the coffin. Kenneth looked so serene lying in there. It was almost as if he were just sleeping. But then again, everyone who was dead was like that, right?